The vile on-line abuse and death threats were bad enough.

But North Queensland coach Paul Green believes Josh McGuire will return from his NRL suspension a reformed character because of his remorse over letting his team down.

Green admitted he had not spoken to McGuire about changing his ways before the Queensland State of Origin lock ran out in the Cowboys’ NRL regular season finale against Melbourne on Friday night, ending a three-game ban for facial contact.

McGuire turned to his club for support after receiving multiple death threats and online abuse over the forward’s aggressive ruck-play when the Test forward’s third contrary conduct charge for “a facial” this season ended in suspension.

The fallout was so bad that McGuire’s wife Tanyssa issued an impassioned defence on social media of her husband.

However, Green believed McGuire would simply be hoping to repay his teammates rather than silencing the haters when he made his NRL return against the Storm in Melbourne.

“He is obviously disappointed about how it all panned out. I think he wants to try and make up for it,” Green said.

Asked if he had told McGuire to curb his aggression, Green said: “I think he knows that.

“He was just as disappointed as everyone else last time. He feels he probably let the team down a little bit.

“I think he is aware of it and he’s had a few weeks to think about it.

“It certainly affected him last time so I would be surprised if he hasn’t changed his ways.”

There were concerns for McGuire’s wellbeing after his wife revealed the extraordinary hate her husband had endured on-line following his suspension.

“He’s also a human, and has feelings like you and I,” Tanyssa McGuire posted on Instagram last month.

“Of late, he has been receiving death threat upon death threat. Countless threats of the most unthinkable things.

“Mental health is constantly being spoken about within the NRL and yet what I am witnessing is the absolute bashing of a man who can only take so much before that thick skin starts to soften.”

But Green said on Tuesday ex-Brisbane enforcer McGuire was now in a good place as he looked to finish his debut season with North Queensland strongly.

“It was a bit of tough time for him at the start but I think he is handling it a lot better now,” Green said.

“He just wants to get a good game under his belt before the season finishes.”

McGuire was named on the Cowboys bench for the Storm clash at the expense of Reuben Cotter.